Bryce Harper vs Paul Waner: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Waner has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Bryce Harper has played 2012–present as a hitter; Paul Waner played 1926–1945 as a hitter.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
Bryce Harper (2012–present) and Paul Waner (1926–1945) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1920s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Bryce Harper has 1,956 hits and 392 home runs through October 12, 2026; Paul Waner finished with 3,152 hits and 113 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Bryce Harper, with 392 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bryce Harper, with .902 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Waner, with .333 to Bryce Harper's .279.
- Who had more hits? Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Bryce Harper's 1,956.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Waner, with 1,309 to Bryce Harper's 1,138.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Waner, with 40,296 career PIV to Bryce Harper's 34,405.
Bryce Harper
Paul Waner
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bryce Harper and Paul Waner. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 14 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other one is a counting total on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded it. Counting stats reward longevity, and strikeouts are left unmarked because a longer career accumulates more of them. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, and the 2010s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Bryce Harper is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Bryce Harper | Paul Waner |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,947 | Leads: 2,549 |
| At-Bats | 7,012 | Leads: 9,459 |
| Runs | 1,247 | Leads: 1,627 |
| Hits | 1,956 | Leads: 3,152 |
| Doubles | 433 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 27 | Leads: 191 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 392 | 113 |
| RBI | 1,138 | Leads: 1,309 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,212 | 1,091 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,802 | 376 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 159 | 104 |
| Batting Avg | .279 | Leads: .333 |
| On-Base % | .386 | Leads: .404 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .516 | .473 |
| OPS | Leads: .902 | .878 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Waner leads Bryce Harper 40,296 to 34,405 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Paul Waner played 22 seasons to Bryce Harper's 14, while Bryce Harper carries the higher per-season figure (2,458 to 1,832). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Bryce Harper — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Waner — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Waner leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Bryce Harper owns home runs, stolen bases, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Waner. PIV agrees: Paul Waner grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bryce Harper and Paul Waner careers compare
No season is shared: Paul Waner played 1926–1945, Bryce Harper 2012–present. With 1,947 games against 2,549 across 14 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Bryce Harper struck out more than walked (1,802 to 1,212), but Paul Waner walked more often than struck out (1,091 walks, 376 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Bryce Harper's hits: 392 of 1,956 for Bryce Harper, 113 of 3,152 for Paul Waner. On the bases, Bryce Harper stole more often per game played (159 steals in 1,947 games for Bryce Harper, 104 in 2,549 for Paul Waner). In slugging percentage, Bryce Harper holds the edge, .516 to .473. Because Bryce Harper is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Bryce Harper vs Paul Waner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bryce Harper or Paul Waner?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Waner leads Bryce Harper in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bryce Harper or Paul Waner hit more home runs?
- Bryce Harper, with 392 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bryce Harper, with .902 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Waner, with .333 to Bryce Harper's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Bryce Harper's 1,956.